View full sizeMontclair class of 2013 recruit, Kamani Odrick (No. 6)Photo taken by the Odrick family, used with permission

This season while working as a color analyst for Verizon Fios1 Sports,
I stumbled upon a ton of top talent, some of which has flown under the radar.
However, today, I give a quick look back to championship weekend and some of
the standout performers I witnessed, some of which either were or are being
recruited by Rutgers.

We already chronicled both the Hoboken-Roselle Park and Bergen
Catholic-Paramus Catholic sectional finals. Now, lets take a look at some of the prospects within the Summit-Palisades Park-Leonia and Montclair-Bloomfield showdowns. We'll be focusing on players with either FBS (formerly Division 1A) or FCS (formerly Division 1AA) level potential.

Summit defeated
Palisades Park-Leonia, 30-0, in the North II, Group III sectional final. Summit senior athlete Mike Badgley proved as he has done all year; that he can do it all.
Whether it be passing, running the football, catching it, defending it, kicking
field goals and extra points or fielding both kicks and punts, Badgely might
have been the most complete player New Jersey had to offer. Rutgers as well as
many other FBS institutions gave him a strong look as a kicker but he will go
on to play lacrosse in college. But it's his knack to consistently come up with
positive football plays from multiple positions. He's a throwback football
player who could have positively affected an FBS team as a kicker if not more
than that. But he has FCS All-American written all over him.

Seniors Connor O'Malley and Kyre
Negron played at a high level as well and also have a good shot to play
FCS-level football in college. With a prep year, the 6-4, 250-pound O'Malley
might be able to generate some FBS interest. He's a disruptor from the
defensive end position, who does a great job shedding blocks and locating the
ball-carrier.

The running back Negron is a stop and start,
between the tackles assassin. His vision is unbelievable as well as his ability
to read and react. He also maintains speed throughout his cuts and forward
momentum down-field. He's always looking to break the big one. I'd like to see him in a role where he has the
opportunity to be "the guy." I can't help but think he was a bit under-utilized
when looking at his size, quickness and overall skill-set.

Palisades Park–Leonia senior
big-man, Tony Bonadies, has a chance,
but will likely need a year of prep football in order to haul in an FBS offer. So
far, he holds only an offer from Bryant. He's a huge, space-eating two-way
lineman with ability. Standing 6-4, 295-pounds, he could likely mold himself
into a solid FBS-level offensive guard prospect with some fine-tuning and body reshaping.
He has played a lot of center on the high school level which tells you he is
also cerebral. And when he decides to get off the football, he flashes the
leverage and explosion to up-root physical defenders in the trenches.

What a war between Montclair and Bloomfield in the
North I, Group V sectional final.
It was the most entertaining defensive battle I have seen in a long while. Too
bad someone had to lose that game. Montclair came out on top in double overtime,
16-13.

Bloomfield senior offensive
tackle Marcell Lazard has rounded
into a top-tier offensive lineman. The 6-6, 295-pounder is a dominate run
blocker who utilizes his length and sheer strength to absolutely swallow up defenders.
Not only is he huge, but he is nimble, displayed by the many times he got out
in front on lead blocks and plowed through defenders. Lazard is a guy who made
a monumental leap as a senior. Although Rutgers offered, West Virginia won out
in this recruiting battle, and they are getting a terrific player with endless
up-side.

Montclair, on the other
hand, was immensely talented (as you can see by the difference in size of the
two teams' write-ups). But the best player on the field in the championship
game was current Scarlet Knight Julian Pinnix-Odrick's first cousin, senior Kamani Odrick. The 6-2, 210-pounder is
an absolute terror with prime FBS-level ability. The top-tier outside
linebacker moved from Philadelphia after his sophomore year and sat out his
junior season, which has negatively affected his recruitment. But make no doubt
about it; he would be a steal for any FBS program to come in with an
opportunity, late.

Odrick has great instincts,
a mean streak and finishes through ball-carriers. He's one of the nastiest
players and hardest hitters I've seen in person all season. Rutgers has
inquired about Odrick, but have likely taken their last linebacker within the
class of 2013. Odrick might need a prep year to show the country what he is all
about. But if a school can snatch him up before-hand, it would be to their
benefit. Odrick, the Star Ledger first team All-State defender, finished the season with 136 tackles, 11.5 sacks and five forced fumbles.

Just like Lazard, offensive tackle Sam Zeff at 6-5 and 280 pounds,has become big-time. The Mounties seem
to run right off his back-side on about 80 percent of the plays they call. It's
something about senior year for offensive linemen when you get the most meaningful
flashes of what they might become. Zeff is a knee-bender who doesn't shy away
from contact. He is physical at the point of attack and really sits down on his
blocks in pass pro. Rutgers offered Zeff, but he will instead take his talents
to UMass next season.

Two-way senior lineman, Brandon Taylor, has been a cog in the middle of Montclair's defense for a long time now. And he has also been one of their biggest standouts on the offensive line. Standing 6-1 and 270 pounds, Taylor is right on the cusp as far as size to compete on the FBS level. He is built to dominate the FCS level, today, but might need a prep year in order to establish a few looks from mid-majors.

Nate Crutchfield, Montclair's senior quarterback, finally got a chance to get out from
the shadow that Khalif Herbin had kept him in for so long. Crutchfield
accomplished just this one thing that Herbin could not; win state a
championship for head coach Fiore. And he made some clutch throws in order to
do so.

Seniors C.J. Sears and Michael
Million are also high-level high school football players. Sears is an
absolute ball hawk in the secondary and led the state in interceptions with 9.
And Million is a tough running back who utilizes persistent leg drive and low pad
level to pick up tough yardage. I'd expect both prospects to become FCS stars
on the next level. But Sears, at 6-2, 190, could be an FBS player with a prep
year.

Russell Walton, the 6-1, 175-pound Don Bosco transfer, made a nice contribution to this Montclair championship team. The senior defensive back made timely plays on the football throughout the season, and the Mounties probably don't win a championship without him. He should shine on the FCS level.

Junior defensive ends, Darius Slade and Austin Stephens (both 6-4, 230) really began to show out in 2012, and are getting
solid consideration from the Scarlet Knights. Slade, another of the Odrick
cousins, was neutralized for the most part by Lazard, although he flashed some
big-time ability at points throughout the contest. He is raw, but has a nice
frame and is explosive off then edge, bending down the line making him tough to
trap block. Slade came in second in the state to Rutgers commit, Kemoko Turay, with 13.5 sacks.

And Stevens definitely has the look of an FBS-caliber athlete. He made a nice play in overtime, generating a sack-fumble on an outside-in rip move, and gaining possession for his Mounties at a critical point in the football game. Stevens had a huge 2012 - accumulating 60 tackles and 11 sacks - even though fighting through double teams throughout most of the season. Rutgers has their sights on both. They each attended Rutgers' unofficial class of 2104 visitors weekend.

Sophomore Elijah Robinson could likely be the
next big thing for Montclair. The 6-1, 180-pounder was unflappable in running
the Mounties' offense from the quarterback position as well as making huge
plays in the other facets of the game. Robinson isn't just an athlete. He has
ice-water in his veins and doesn't shy away from the big stage. And now we can
say he has the heart of a champion. Look out.

Tune in weekly to Verizon Fios1 Sports (either channel 1 or 501 in central NJ) as we broadcast the Star Ledger Game of the Week. We will be airing all of the N.J. sectional finals over the next few weeks so check your local listings to find out when your favorite games will be brought to you.